Today I’m happy to host four lovely authors, each of whom are part of Sourcebook Publishing’s Holiday lineup. The authors are here today to tell you about their favorite holiday movies. Plus, Sourcebook is offering a four-book giveaway, so keep reading!

Carolyn Brown
The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby

Most of my experience with Christmas movies has involved grandkids and watching things like Charlie Brown’s Christmas (which seems appropriate since I’m really married to Charlie Brown), The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and other cute little animated movies. But my all-time favorite is an old one with Dolly Parton called Smoky Mountain Christmas. It always leaves me with a good holiday spirit and wishing that I’d remembered to put a guitar, singing lessons and lovely long fingernails on my list when I wrote my Santa letter.

Grace Burrowes
Lady Jenny’s Christmas Portrait

It’s tough to choose a favorite holiday movie! “Holiday Inn,” and “White Christmas” are high on the list, because I love the song and dance numbers, and because I used to watch these with my older sister.

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” is a venerable contender, particularly given Linus’s speech. “The Grinch” even my Dad would watch, having long been a fan of Doctor Suess.

But a favorite?

Somebody else will choose “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and that is a wonderful, brilliant movie everybody should treat themselves to periodically.

But my favorite would be… “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,” as narrated by Burl Ives. This 55-minute animated tale is the longest running televised Christmas special, having been aired every year since 1964. I love the score, from Burl singing, “Silver and Gold,” to Clarice serenading Rudolph with “There’s Always Tomorrow,” to the lament of the “Island of Misfit Toys.”

And that misfit theme resonates with me most loudly. The theme of the story is that love and faith (in others and oneself) will turn a shortcoming into a strength. We see that in Rudolph’s nose, for which he is shamed, and for which he banishes himself. We see it in Hermey, who wants to be a dentist rather than one of the clockwork cheery elves in Santa’s workshop. The same theme applies to the misfit toys who are all “wrong,” (a jill-in-the-box?), and consequently passed over every Christmas, while their longing for the love of any child is heartbreaking.

I cried the first time I saw this story—I would have been ten, because we didn’t have a TV until at least then—and I cry when I watch it now. We all have the wrong nose, we all chase the wrong dreams, and we’re all wishing somebody would come along who can see how wonderful we are despite our weird paint job or square wheels.

Most of us will take more than 55 minutes to find the snow storm that will show our nose for the miracle it is, but this little tale is reassuring. It reminds us that the real miracle is love, and we’re all worthy of it, and capable of bestowing it. My kinda movie!

Juliana Stone
The Christmas He Loved Her

I love movies and I love Christmas so of course I have a couple favorites that I watch EVERY holiday season and they’re all for different scenarios.

First up, Love Actually. This one is a movie night with all my girlfriends. It’s about wine and giggling and sighing. I love everything about this movie.

Elf. I have always loved Will Ferrell, but in this movie he’s adorable. I watch this with the family and wish that I could adopt Buddy the elf and keep with me. For realz I would.

The Lord of The Rings trilogy. I am not sure how this happened but a few years ago my daughter and started watching the entire trilogy (extended version) over the Christmas holidays and now it’s something we just do. Already looking forward to the Gandalf and Aragorn!

It’s A Wonderful Life. This movie I watch every single Christmas eve, with a glass of wine in hand as I wrap the last few presents and get the stockings ready for the kids. George Bailey is heartbreaking and sweet and hopeful and I think he represents what Christmas is all about. LOVE it!

Terry Spear
A SEAL Wolf Christmas

I love It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story (you’d shoot your eye out, kid!), A Christmas Carol, Miracle on 34th Street, Jingle All the Way, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, The Snowman, The Polar Express, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Frosty the Snowman.

Giveaway

Thank you to Sourcebook Publishing and these awesome authors for hosting a giveaway that includes one (1) prize pack of all four (4) of these Christmas authors’ novels. In order to enter the giveaway, please tell us your favorite holiday movie in the comments AND complete the Rafflecopter form, below! This contest is open internationally. Open to all readers, 18 years or older, who are legally allowed to participate in such a contest as allowed by their local laws. All federal, state, local, and municipal laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. By participating in the contest, participants agree to be bound by the decisions of the contest sponsor. Prize will be delivered by the publisher. I am not responsible for items lost in the mail. Contest ends on December 23, 2013 at midnight EST.

Please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com if you have issues entering the contest.

And for additional winter fun, be sure to check out the other Mistletoe Madness event happening at this blog…

Thank you for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About. Mistletoe Madness is a chance for authors with winter releases to share in some seasonal fun by creating a post with a holiday/winter theme from one of their character’s POV. For a line up of all of the authors featured here and at The Book Nympho, and to enter the overall event giveaway for a free book (two chances to win!), please click on the image above or go to the kickoff post on December 2, 2013. In addition, several of the authors are hosting individual giveaways. To see all of the Mistletoe Madness posts visit: http://twimom227.com/category/mistletoe-madness.

I agree with Grace Burrowes. Rudolph is and always will be my favorite. I have an ever growing collection of Rudolph ornaments, stuffed animals, animated displays, etc. My mom even made a Rudolph wreath with ornaments and display figurines for me 8 years ago. It is cherished! We had to fix it this year – it was bumped around quite a bit in my last move and a few of the ornaments had fallen off into the wreath-shaped tote that cradles it between Christmases. I think I love it so much because I was, and usually still am, the “misfit”. I don’t fit in to most groups because I’m the nerd girl who spills trivia without thought and people tend to look at me with that, “ooookkaaayyyy” look on their face. So then I clam up and become a wallflower – isolating myself the way Rudolph did for his differences.
But “Love Actually” is a very close second. I’ve seen it so many times I know most of the dialogue by heart. And its message that love actually is all around, whether its misplaced, broken, new, old, young and fresh, romantic or familial, grabs me every time and makes me smile.

I have nine nieces and five nephews and I don’t get to see them nearly enough. But for all their differences and quirks and (lord help me) attitudes, I have enough love for them all and then some. And unconditionally. I don’t know how to love any other way. 🙂

While decorating for Christmas, we play A Christmas Story nonstop. It just became a tradition. We also watch White Christmas during the evening. But Christmas Eve and Christmas requires Miracle on 34th Street (the black and white) and It’s a Wonderful Life. Although my almost 4 year old had us watching Mickey’s Christmas a few times on the weekend.

Jimmy Stewart is my favorite actor of all-time. “You Can’t Take It with You” is my top ten favorite movies and “Mr.Smith Goes to Washington” is tied with “12 Angry Men” for my all-time favorite movie. Another Jimmy Stewart movie set at Christmas that’s a favorite – “The Shop Around the Corner”. And the movie it inspired, “You’ve Got Mail”, also includes Christmas, though it’s not the focus.

I’ll bet a lot of parents can identify with that one. One year, my mom accidentally mixed up the presents intended for my sister and me. We didn’t care, but Mom had tried so, so hard to keep everything straight for seven children… Now, I understand.

A Christmas Story is my favorite! I love it when the dogs break in and steal the turkey!
Finally found it Catherine! I have to keep up my stalking image! Thanks a bunch to all the fabulous authors for putting this on! Merry Christmas to everyone!

Now that you’ve mentioned Lee Majors, I’m wondering if he was ever in any Christmas movies, Grace? No Jessica, I haven’t seen that one. It’ll go in my TBW pile and I can’t wait to see Miz Stanwyck in a comedy!

I do love all of the movies listed by all 4 authors, but my favorite is still Scrooged. It has the Christmas message of being able to change and fix your life, but it is not overly sappy. Some times I need a break from the super sweetness. 😉

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WELCOME to my blog! At That’s What I’m Talking About we discuss and review urban fantasy and all things romance, with some other fun topics tossed in. I hope you will stay and visit for a while!

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